Inking mechanism



Dec. 3, 1929. H. A. w. WOOD INKING MECHANISM Original Filed July 14. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet for A: Jii'ae IYOOd .B wa m s i 4 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES YPATENTT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WOOD NEWSPAPER MA- OHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION-OF VIRGINIA INKING MECHANISM Application filed July 14, 1925, Serial No. 43,548. Renewed April 25, 1929.

This invention relates to an inking mechanism capable of general use but particularly adapted for a web perfecting press. The principal objects of the invention are to provide improvements in the pick-up roll and its arrangement by which the ink will bev picked up directly from the fountain roll and transferred to the ,ink distributin system for aprinting press so 'that its 1m may be more delicately adjusted than has been the case heretofore without causing any unusual wear or heat or increasing the power required; and to do away entirely with the usual ductor roll.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the inking portion 2 of a web press showing some of the rolls in section and illustrating a preferred embodiment of this invention; I

, Fig. 2 is a'similar View of one of the ink fountains, ink drum and pick-up roll showing the latter in section and illustrating the adjustments; and

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same.

I have shown the invention as applie to a press of well known form having. the W0 impression cylinders 10 and plate cylinders 11. The plate cylinders are inked by the composition form rolls 12 from the ink drum 13. The Ink is spread out on the ink drum by the composition distributing rolls 14. The parts above described are shown as ofone of thejusual forms and do' not constitute part of this invention as the invention is applicable to both this form of press and to other forms; The ink fountain 15 on the frame 18 of the press is of the usual construction having the usual metal fountain roll 17.- The ink fountain has a block 16 for'supporting the scraper blade 19. The roll 17 and rotary member 13 are positively driven in opposite directions as usual, the fountain ,roll at a low speed.

The principal feature of this invention is the pick-up roll. Heretofore, as .far as I am aware, the pick-up roll has been geared to 5 .run at the speed of the general ink digesting mechanism of the printing press. Therefore it supplies ink to the inking system in an efficient manner and without undue friction. But the fountain roll from which the pick-up roll receives ink always rotates'more slowly and in the opposite surface direction. Therefore it has been impossible to bring the pickup roll into direct contact with the fountain roll without causing much friction between the two metallic surfaces, resulting in heat and wear and consuming unnecessary power. It has been the invariable practice, therefore, to set the metal pick-up roll out of contact with the fountain roll, but near enough to engage the ink thereon and remove only a part of the film. This necessitated the use of,a

thick film of ink on the fountain roll, for if it were too thin the pick-up roll would not remove any of it. This has prevented theiobtaining of delicate efiects 111 printing, particularly in half tone work.

By means of several easily made changes I have succeeded in providing an inking mechanism in which the pick-up roll can run in direct contact with the fountain roll and the pressure between them regulated with any desired degree of finenessythus permitting the use of a very thin film of ink on the fountain roll. The result is a distribution of ink in a thin film of uniform character suitable for the finest kinds of half tone printing. I have accomplished this in the present invention, in a manner which sets up no undue friction, does not heat either roll or cause any appreciable wear on the fountain roll. Other advantages also are secured.

I provide a continuously' operating pick-u roll 20 always in direct contact with bot the fountain roll 17 and thelgink drum 13 or i a rotary member of the ink distributing system and is driven by the latter. Instead of fnetal, this pick-up roll is formed with a soft resilient surface such as rubber, felt or roller composition. On account of the soft surface, the pick-up roll is capable of-ap lying the ink to the ink drum in a more e ective' ,way than metal rolls and neither it nor the etal fountain roll have to be turned to diameter very accurately. The usual ductor 10;:

roll is eliminated. The chief advantages,

however, are that, as the soft surfaced pickup roll runs in direct contact with the fountain roll, the latter can be run with a thin film of fine ink and the pick-up roll will carry all of it to the ink drum. Furthermore, this is accomplished with little friction or wear on the fountain roll, and without the absorption of much power. The wear comes on the pickup roll which can be removed and replaced very readily, as by the omission of the duotor roll I can arrange for the application of the pick-up roll at the outside of the press.

For the purpose of keeping the pick-up roll in proper position, I preferably mount its end studs 21 in a pair of bearing blocks 22. These bearing blocks are provided with screws 23 extending into the ends of a pair of arms 24 fixed on the main bearings 25 of the studs 26 of the ink drum 13. These bearings are stationary and so the arms are also stationary and they are made radial so that the screws 23 are in radial position. Check nuts 27 are located on these screws and tightened up against the ends of the arms 24 so that the pick-up roll 20 can be adjusted out and in just enough to engage with the desired degree of pressure on the metallic surface of the ink drum 13 so as to be driven thereby.

Each bearing 22 also has a projection 28 which is tapped out to receive an adjusting screw 29 supported on a poppet 30 on the frame 18 and secured in adjusted-position by nuts 31. This screw is located at right angles to the screw 23, tangential with respect to the ink drum. Now the pick-up roll, besides being adjustable in a radial direction, can be adjusted tangentially with respect to the ink drum so as to be made to bear with the proper degree of pressure on the fountain roll 17 On account of the relationship between these two adjustments, it will be seen that no adj ustments of the screws 29 would in any way modify by the screws 23. Therefore the pick-up roll ma be set with exactness to the ink drum an then adjusted as desired relative to the fountain roll and no re-adjustment of the first adjusting means will be necessary. In this way I secure a more delicately adjusted film of ,ink to the printin plate than has been possible heretofore. I? also avoid excessive heating and wear of the fountain roll without increasing the power consumed. I elimiate the usual ductor roll, and provlde for making the adjustments from the outside of the press.

I am aware of the fact that this invention can be applied to other presses than the one shown and that other modifications can be madein it by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I claim is 1. In an inking device, the combination the adjustments previously secured with an ink distributing system, and a fountain roll, of a pick-up roll having a resilient surface arranged to run continuously in contact with a member of the ink distrubuting system and at the surface speed thereof and in working relation with the fountain roll,

.but in the opposite direction with respect to the fountain roll.

2. In an inking mecahnism, the combination of a positively driven rotary member of an ink distributing system and a positively driven fountain roll, with a relatively soft surfaced pick-up roll driven in contact with said rotary member and running in working relation with the fountain roll but in the opposite direction with respect to the fountain roll to pick up the filmof ink thereon.

3. In an inking mechanism, the combination of a rotary member of an ink distributing system and a fountain roll, with a relatively soft-surfaced pick-up roll running in actual contact with the fountain roll and rotary member but in the opposite direction,

and means for adjusting the pick-up roll with respect to said rotary member.

4. In a web perfecting press having two inking mechanisms, the combination with the two ink fountains and their fountain rolls arranged to rotate in directions opposite to the directions of rotation of their respective ink drums, and a soft surfaced pickand a fountain roll spaced apart, of bearings for the ink drum having a radial arm rojecting therefrom, a pick-up roll located etween the ink drum and fountain roll having bearings for its studs, a screw connecting each of the last named bearings with one of said arms for adjusting the distance of the pick-up roll studs from the ink drum in a radial direction, a pair of poppets on the frame of the machine, adjusting screws pivotally mounted on said poppets, and meansofi the bearings of the pick-up roll studs for receiving the screws, whereby when the pick-up roll is adj usted to the proper position with respect to the surface of the ink drum it can then be adjusted by the poppet screws toward and from the fountain roll without disturbing the first adjustment.

6. In an inking device of the character described, the combination with an ink drum and a fountain'roll spaced apart, of a pick-up roll located between the ink drum and fountain roll, means for adjusting the distance of the pick-up roll fromthe ink drum in a radial mounted on said poppets, and means on the bearings of the pick-up roll studs for receiving the direction with respect to the the pick-up r011 can be adjusted towhereby screws extending in a tangential inkdrum ward and from the fountain roll.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af-' fixed my signature.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD. 

